London – 19 March 2002
Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder & Leader, has stated that as it is the 18th Anniversary of the MQM, therefore, the people at the helm of affairs must now stop using force and arms against the MQM. He said that when children reach adulthood then the parents abstain from raising their hands against them. He was speaking to the workers and supporters of the MQM in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah, Sukkur and Sanghar over the telephone from London. A large number of Sindhi and Balochi speaking people also attended the meetings.
Mr Hussain said that today is the 18th Anniversary of the MQM and in most of the countries upon reaching the age of 18; one becomes eligible to hold several licenses including the driving license as an adult. Mr Hussain said, “I, therefore, ask the people at the helm of affairs to stop using the language of force and arms against the MQM, stop hatching conspiracies against the MQM, stop the bloodbath in Sindh and stop the act of subjugating Sindh.” He said that it is time now that all the issues and matters must be resolved through dialogue.
Mr Hussain said that news is appearing that State is looking for a “reason” to launch another State operation against the MQM. News was published that large quantity of arms were recovered from a water-tank in Hyderabad. He said that while the Church was attacked in Islamabad and not a single attacker was captured and the murderers of doctors in Karachi are roaming scot-free, the Establishment is busy in orchestrating the drama of recovering arms in Hyderabad. He said that if the people at the helm of affairs have decided to launch an operation against the MQM then I would say to them, “remember that MQM is not limited only to the urban centres of Sindh, in fact, it is now spreading all over the Sindh province. If under the pretext of false accusations another operation would be launched against the MQM then not only the urban centres of Sindh but the entire Sindh province would observe a complete peaceful shutdown in protest.”
Addressing the people at the helm of affairs Mr Hussain said that it is not a crime or a sin to demand rights. He said that we are not against Pakistan, we are against the medieval feudal system, we want to see true democracy flourishing in the country and we want full provincial autonomy. Sindh, Balochistan and other smaller provinces must be provided their rights, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), and other officials of paramilitary rangers, police and administration must not be imported from Punjab and imposed upon smaller provinces. The people of these smaller provinces must be allowed to run the affairs of their respective provinces themselves. The income of Balochistan and Sindh must be spent upon the Balochistan and Sindh respectively. He said that a country could only survive on a just system whereas unjust system cannot save a country. Voice of the people could only be suppressed temporarily by force but it could not be suppressed forever. It is not an example of a just system that a Prime Minister belonging to Sindh Province is hanged, whereas the Prime Minister from Punjab despite being found guilty and sentenced from the Courts of law is sent abroad with all his wealth and entire family. He asked is it justice that those who created Pakistan are being labelled as “traitors”, whereas those who opposed its creation are claiming to be champions of Pakistan. He said that up until the day of independence, the province of Punjab was governed by anti-Pakistan Unionist Party, whereas, Sain G M Syed who was instrumental in the adoption of a Resolution in favour of Pakistan from the Sindh Assembly was termed as “traitor”. Those who sacrificed two million lives and migrated to Pakistan from India are being termed “traitors”. Sain G M Syed didn’t passed the resolution in favour of Pakistan so that one day the people of Sindh would be deprived of water and Sindh province would be made a colony. Neither those who migrated to Pakistan from Muslim Minority Provinces sacrificed two million lives so that their kith and kin would be made slaves.
Mr Hussain said that everyone must be provided with equal rights, the people of Sindh and Balochistan must be allowed to run the affairs of their provinces; and the use of force must end. He said that there is still time left to save Pakistan and MQM is the only political party, which has the formula to save Pakistan. Unlike other political parties, the MQM is not into politics of power, in fact, it strives for the rights of oppressed people. He said that the land of Shah Latif is the land of Sufis, which has provided shelter to people of every religion and sect, however, today to incite sectarian violence, bloodshed of innocent people is being carried out. He demanded that this conspiracy must end immediately as by the Grace of Allah Almighty Sindhis and Mohajirs have united to defeat all the conspiracies of the Establishment of Punjab.
Mr Hussain while strongly condemning the attack upon the Church in Islamabad, demanded of the Government to immediately arrest the attackers. He expressed his condolences to the family members of those who were murdered in this Church attack and prayed for the early recovery of the injured persons.
Commenting on the inclusion of army officers in the so-called anti-terrorist courts Mr Hussain said that instead of including the army officers in the so-called anti-terrorist courts, they should be posted at the mosques, imam bargahs and worship places of religious minorities so that everyone could peacefully worship according to their religion.
Mr Hussain demanded for withdrawal of all cases and the immediate release of Chairman Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz (JSQM) Mr Basheer Qureshi, other members of JSQM and the MQM workers and leaders. He said that the so-called nationalist leaders of Sindh on the payroll of Establishment are issuing statements and tall claims for Sindh and making threats of massive bloodshed are not arrested whereas Mr Basheer Qureshi who is truly struggling for the rights of Sindh province is being imprisoned.
Mr Hussain congratulated all workers, office bearers, mothers, sisters, elders and the public on the 18th Anniversary of the MQM. He lauded the martyrs of the Movement and praised the resolve of detained and determined workers.